Centre must step in to ensure CWG tickets for sports lovers

The report Why stadiums are empty (October 8) made for a startling revelation. Tickets being found with a junk dealer may be a shocking news for sports fans but this only underscores the mismanagement that has permeated every aspect of the Games.

The report Why stadiums are empty (October 8) made for a startling revelation. Tickets being found with a junk dealer may be a shocking news for sports fans but this only underscores the mismanagement that has permeated every aspect of the Games. Since this has drastically reduced the footfall at various events, the government must take immediate steps to increase the availability of tickets to sports lovers, which will not only increase the number of spectators in the stadiums but also boost the morale of the players.

Rajesh Piplani, via email

Rahul has stooped to conquer

Rahul Gandhi has always taken a balanced stand on most issues, but he seems to have slipped up in comparing the RSS with Students Islamic Movement of India (RSS as fanatical as SIMI: Rahul, October 7). Unlike Simi, the RSS’s ideology does not preach violence nor does it want to impose Hinduism on non-Hindus. A few of its members’ participation in violent acts, in retaliation to similar acts against Hindus, do not make it a fundamentalist organisation. If this was the case, then the Congress would be a party of murderers and corrupt leaders. An apology will add to Rahul’s stature.

Vinode K. Mohindra, via email

II

Rahul’s comments were surprising and uncalled for. It seems that he is well on his way to mastering votebank politics. But before making such comments, he must first analyse the selfless service provided by RSS volunteers over the years. Even his great-grandfather, Pandit Nehru, who initially banned the RSS in 1948, later invited its volunteers for the Republic Day parade of 1963 in recognition of the meritorious services provided by the RSS’s ranks in the wake of the Sino-Indian war of 1962.

Naveen Tewari, Delhi

Nothing to cheer about

With reference to Samar Halarnkar’s article Stop talking! Hear us (Maha Bharat, October 7), by cheering the Pakistani contingent, the crowd at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony legitimised all the sins committed by Pakistanis against India. Moreover, Halarnkar and the crowd should note that had the event taken place in Pakistan, they would have heard jeering for the Indians.

A.K. Sharma, Chandigarh

Reject this relic of the past

The editorial Go by facts, not feelings (Our Take, October 7) was right in stating that only credible evidence and not emotions can help arrive at fair decisions in court rulings. But the Rouvanjit Rawla case is a sad reminder of the fact that despite corporal punishment being a relic of the past, some people seem to have forgotten the lofty ideals of great teachers like Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghose, S. Radhakrishnan and Rabindranath Tagore.

Robi Shom, via email

No medals for this oversight

It’s disgusting that gold medal winner Renu Bala had to take an auto to get home from the stadium. The irony is that it happened in front of the Indian Weightlifting Federation president. Even though the State claims to have provided state-of-the-art facilities to our sportspersons, such tall claims are far from reality. Those responsible must be taken to task.

N. Mahadevan, Mumbai

Who is the real victim here?

The report SC lifeline for Mattoo killer (October 7) demonstrates that criminals in India can still get away with heinous crimes by turning and twisting facts. The court showed consideration for the accused’s family, but not for the victim’s. In being lenient, it seems the apex court has forgotten the intimidation carried out by goons hired by Santosh Kumar Singh and his IPS father.